Jerry Buss built a glittering life at the intersection of sports and Hollywood.

After growing up in poverty in Wyoming, he earned success in academia, aerospace and real estate before discovering his favorite vocation when he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. While Mr. Buss wrote the checks and fostered partnerships with two generations of basketball greats, the Lakers won 10 NBA titles and became a glamorous worldwide brand.

With a scientist's analytical skills, a playboy's flair, a businessman's moneymaking savvy and a die-hard hoops fan's heart, Mr. Buss fashioned the Lakers into a remarkable sports entity. They became a nightly happening, often defined by a word coined by Mr. Buss: Showtime.

"His impact is felt worldwide," said Kobe Bryant, who has spent nearly half his life working for Mr. Buss.

Mr. Buss, who shepherded his NBA team from the Showtime dynasty of the 1980s to the current Bryant era while becoming one of the most important and successful owners in pro sports, died Monday. He was 80.

Under Mr. Buss' leadership, the Lakers became Southern California's most beloved sports franchise and a worldwide extension of Los Angeles glamour. Mr. Buss acquired, nurtured and befriended a staggering array of outstanding players and basketball minds during his Hall of Fame tenure, from Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard.

Few owners in sports history can approach Mr. Buss' accomplishments with the Lakers, who made the NBA Finals 16 times and won 10 titles between 1980 and 2010.

Jerry West, Mr. Buss' longtime general manager and now an executive board member and consultant with the Warriors, expressed his sadness and admiration Monday.

"As I have said many times, I have been blessed to work for Jerry Buss, the most successful owner in basketball history," West said in a statement. "His incredible commitment and desire to build a championship-caliber team that could sustain success over a long period of time has been unmatched. With all of his achievements, Jerry was without a doubt one of the most humble men I've ever been around.

"I was blessed to have the opportunity to work for him and I will miss him dearly. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Buss family and the Lakers' organization. We lost a great man today and a legend in our business."

Mr. Buss died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said Bob Steiner, his assistant and longtime friend. Mr. Buss had been hospitalized for most of the past 18 months while undergoing cancer treatment, but the immediate cause of death was kidney failure, Steiner said.

With 1,786 victories, the Lakers easily are the NBA's winningest franchise since he bought the club, which is now run largely by his children Jim and Jeanie Buss.

Mr. Buss is survived by his six children: sons Johnny, Jim, Joey and Jesse, and daughters Jeanie Buss and Janie Drexel. He had eight grandchildren.